What are the opening hours and admission fees?

The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with last entry at 4:30 p.m. It's closed every Monday (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum closes the following day instead). Regular admission fees are ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for children, though discounts are sometimes available through partner businesses.

How do I get to the Tale of Genji Museum from central Kyoto?

The museum is an 8-minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line, or a 15-minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line. From central Kyoto, you can take either the Keihan Uji Line or JR Nara Line to reach Uji Station. Both train lines provide convenient access from downtown Kyoto.

Do I need to know The Tale of Genji story to enjoy the museum?

No, prior knowledge isn't required. The museum conveys the stories through models and videos for easy understanding, and visitors are introduced to the story line and main characters through life-size sets and exhibitions. However, some English translations are available, though the museum primarily appeals to those familiar with the tale.

What can I expect to see inside the museum?

The permanent exhibition features "Heian no Ma" (room of Heian-kyo) and "Uji no Ma" (room of Uji) with themes of Hikaru Genji and the "10 Quires of Uji," connected by a futuristic drum bridge. The museum displays the culture of the Imperial Court of the Heian period, aristocrats' costumes, and residential furnishings through projected images, models, and exhibitions. There's also a video exhibition room with films about the story.

How long should I plan for my visit?

Most visitors spend approximately 1-2 hours exploring the museum thoroughly. The museum features dioramas, interactive exhibits, and films that bring the story to life, so allow enough time to experience both the permanent exhibition rooms and the video presentations. The museum works well as part of a larger Uji sightseeing itinerary that includes nearby temples and tea shops.

Tale of Genji Museum, Uji

4 (2016)MuseumArt MuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated Jul 30, 2026

The Tale of Genji Museum in Uji City stands as the only museum in the world that specializes in the Tale of Genji, which has been loved by many for over 1,000 years. Located in Kyoto Prefecture, this unique cultural institution is dedicated to the timeless classic written by Murasaki Shikibu in the Heian period and still widely read over a thousand years later.

The museum holds particular significance due to its location in Uji City, which serves as the main setting of the novel's latter chapters, which are commonly referred to as "Uji Jujo," or the "Ten Chapters of Uji". The last ten chapters of The Tale of Genji are set in Uji; the hero is Kaoru Genji (a son of Hikaru Genji). This connection makes the museum's placement historically and literarily appropriate for exploring Japan's most celebrated classical work.

Visitors can explore two main exhibition areas: the "Heian no Ma" (room of Heian-kyo) and "Uji no Ma" (room of Uji) with theme of Hikaru Genji and "10 Quires of Uji", and the two were connected by "bridge" of futuristic drum bridge. The unique museum offers visitors an opportunity to learn firsthand about the world of The Tale of Genji via exhibits detailing court life and clothing of the nobles during that period. The displays feature projected images, models, and exhibitions that showcase the culture of the Imperial Court of the Heian period, the aristocrats' costumes, and the furnishings of their residences.

The museum creates an immersive experience through life-size recreations and multimedia presentations. The story of these chapters is reproduced with great realism using a scrim and life-size set. Visitors are introduced to the story line and main characters. Interactive elements include exhibits recreating scenes from The Tale of Genji in which the women of a noble family play the traditional board game go, and displays featuring a Heian period oxcart (restoration) used to transport Japanese nobility. Additionally, models and videos convey stories for easy understanding.

The museum is conveniently accessible via public transportation to Uji City. Uji is easily accessible by public transport using the Keihan or JR train. From central Kyoto, visitors can reach Uji Station using either the JR Nara Line or Keihan Uji Line, with the museum located within walking distance of both stations. The museum is situated in the historic district near other cultural attractions, allowing visitors to explore multiple sites during their visit to this culturally rich area between Kyoto and Nara.

Traveler reviews

I think admission was 5 or 600 yen and I spent about an hour and a half here. Barely anything was in English, but I still watched their two 30 minute short films in the theater and looked at the exhibits. It was a very organized collection. I did get a cool book at the the souvenir shop/cafe and plan to read the tale of Genji eventually 2026/03/24

HedgeHodge “HodgePodge”

Mar 31, 2026

This museum was a pleasant surprise! We needed to get out of the rain for a bit and it was near where we were at. So we decided to check it out. We watched two of the short movies and they were very interesting telling the tell of Genji. Even my son enjoyed it. It is a small museum so definitely watch the movies. There were translation devices available.

Slight walk from the city centre area. Text description mostly in Japanese but there is audio guide available. There is also short film inside

This is a small museum but very enjoyable especially if you are a Genji/Shikibu fan. There is an a much needed English Audio guide which the staff will give you. Mine cut out a little so ask if you are having problems with it. It's an unusual guide, it syncs to the movie/displays in the room, so take your time. It also works in the movie room. So don't take it off. Explore the building. There is a small library and a tearoom in the back. There is a big focus on the last chapters of the book. You might want to reread them if you get a chance. Another tip. The Kyoto Tourist office has an Uji booklet for Genji related sites, also found at the Uji Tourist offices. The Kyoto office also had a xeroxed copy of related sites in Kyoto.

A true hidden gem in the heart of Uji :) The staff were incredibly welcoming, and the museum itself offered quite a punch despite its small size. It's divided into a few different rooms, the largest of which feature information on the Heian period, i.e. the setting for the tale of Genji, and information on the Uji-based chapters of the story, respectively. Personally, the section featuring the Uji-based story was a clear favorite, as the museum expertly transformed a single exhibit of posed mannequins into something reminiscent of a stage piece by playing with the light in the room and providing narration via speaker. The narration and signage is all/mostly in Japanese, as is the case with many Japanese museums, but there are audio guides available in English, Chinese, and (I believe) Korean. Another thing to keep an eye out for is the in-house cinema playing either of two short films throughout the day, switching between the two every 30 minutes. One is a doll-based recreation of the Uji part of the tale of Genji, while the other is a meta animation on the author and the popularity of the story during the Heian period. Watching both movies takes about an hour, and going through the rest of the museum and the gift shop probably takes another hour, so my suggestion would be to carve out about 2 hours to come here. It's a very unique museum carrying a very clear story, so in my opinion any visitors to Uji would be remiss not to swing by! By the way, you'll probably have the best museum experience by "studying" a bit beforehand - I suggest of course reading the wikipedia page on the tale of Genji if you're unfamiliar with the story, but I'd also recommend visiting the kanji museum or the incense museum (or both!) in Kyoto beforehand, as they help to set the stage a little bit. Enjoy!